Quiz Show (1994)

November 30, 2022 2:35 PM

A young lawyer, Richard Goodwin, investigates a potentially fixed game show. Charles Van Doren, a big time show winner, is under Goodwin's investigation.

96% on Rotten Tomatoes; available free on Hoopla or for pay on various services: JustWatch listing.

posted by johnofjack (5 comments total)

I remember liking this a lot.
posted by brainwane at 9:51 PM on November 30, 2022

It should have won the best picture Oscar
posted by brujita at 10:47 PM on November 30, 2022 [1 favorite]

I'm a big fan of true story stuff even when highly fictionalized (though I think this one was fairly close to the real story) and this was a great one. The entire cast is fantastic and really well cast for their parts. This might be the first time I'd seen John Turturro in anything and I was impressed. He's one of the people that will make me watch something I might not just by his being in it.

Seeing this here made me wonder what happened to Rob Morrow because he was a good and somewhat unique actor. Turns out he's in a bunch of stuff since Quiz Show, just nothing I've seen. Maybe it's time to check a few of those things out.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 9:01 AM on December 1, 2022

This is an excellent movie. Lots of moments that sting - Paul Scofield just shines in so many scenes, and his journey from beaming pride in his son to heartbreaking disappointment is remarkable. Turturro is amazing, too.
posted by Caxton1476 at 1:48 PM on December 1, 2022

Yes! I still remember that wounded dignity of "Your name is mine." Such a small moment, but so good. IIRC, it was that exact scene--that delivery--which made me look up other Scofield films and led me to A Man for All Seasons (which I also liked quite a lot).

As Clinging to the Wreckage said, Turturro and Fiennes are also quite good.
posted by johnofjack at 3:05 PM on December 1, 2022